American Airlines’ new nonstop flight to Dominica is driving a tourism rebound on the island. 

The new nonstop service from Miami helped the Nature Island achieve a 308 percent increase in arrivals in 2022 compared to 2021, with a total of 60,704 visitors last year. 

“We are thrilled to see the comeback of travel,” said Discover Dominica CEO Colin Piper. “We are still working toward recovery as we are not yet back to pre-pandemic numbers, but we are in a good place as we begin 2023 with strong bookings throughout the winter travel season. In 2023, Dominica remains focused on its sustainability efforts, which is becoming an increasingly popular selling point of the island.”

The American Airlines flight, which kicked off at the end of 2021, is the first-ever nonstop service between the United States and Dominica, helping connect American travelers to an island that had always been rather difficult to get to. 

Tourism officials said American Airlines flights contributed nearly one-third of all “carrier contributions” to the island. 

“The addition of the American Airlines flight had a significant impact on our tourism arrivals. It’s never been faster or easier for U.S. visitors to travel to and from Dominica. It’s also a valuable addition for the diaspora community,” continued Piper. “We appreciate American Airlines continued support and look forward to seeing more U.S. travelers exploring our beautiful island this year.”